Position Summary: AmeriCorps Field Crews serve outdoors restoring habitat, managing natural resources, and occasionally responding to natural disasters or community needs. The Field Crew program prioritizes personal and professional growth while teaching hands-on conservation skills in the field. Members develop technical skills throughout their term while completing challenging and impactful conservation projects. Natural resources projects vary by region and crew location, but may include:
- Invasive species management
- Stream bank stabilization, erosion control
- Prescribed burning
- Trail construction & maintenance
- Tree planting
- Basic carpentry
- Wild land fire suppression
- Emergency response
Projects are in partnership with public land management agencies such as the State Department of Natural Resources, US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, cities, counties, and trail associations. Projects are physically challenging and team-oriented and occur throughout the Midwest, including urban and wilderness settings. Depending on crew location, up to 90% of projects will be out-of-town assignments, requiring camping for 4 – 12 consecutive days. Crews are led by AmeriCorps Crew Leaders and supervised by 2 Regional Managers.
Locations:
- Northern Minnesota: Bemidji, Duluth, Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Central Minnesota: St. Paul, Hanover, Plymouth, Shakopee, Andover, Chaska
- Southern Minnesota: Rochester, Mankato
- Iowa: Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls
Duties & Responsibilities
- Complete natural resources service projects in cooperation with fellow members safely, effectively and efficiently and to the satisfaction and specifications of the project host
- Abide by Corps program safety regulations as well as applicable federal/state/municipal law and OSHA requirements; communicate any safety concerns and incidents
- Contribute actively to the team to complete projects, upholding the Corps values of safety, service, respect, equity and community
- Positive attitude, desire to learn new skills, interest in community service; represent Conservation Corps in positive manner in
- Share project highlights and photos with the Marketing and Communications Department for inclusion in news release articles and other communications
- Serve a minimum of 950 hours and complete the entire service term per the start and end dates listed on the Member Service Agreement
- Complete and approve timecards and other required reports and paperwork in timely fashion
Hours & Schedule
Schedules can vary, depending on crew location. Crew members should expect to be scheduled for at least 40 hours of service per week. A typical schedule is Monday – Thursday, 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM. Overnight travel (4 – 12 consecutive days) is often required for service projects.
Training & Development
The Corps provides orientation and skills training at the start of the program year, and additional region or project specific training throughout the service term that may include:
- Team building and conflict resolution
- Diversity, equity and inclusion
- Safety and risk management
- Power and hand tool safety and maintenance
- S130 & S190 Firefighter training and red card certification training
- First Aid and CPR
- MN Safety Council defensive driving
- Trailer operation and safety
- Invasive species management/herbicide application
- Plant identification
- Leave No Trace principles.
Benefits:
- Living Allowance: $1,810/month
- Education Award: $1,718.25 – $3,247.50, if eligible and upon successful completion of program
- Student loan forbearance (on qualifying student loans)
- Health insurance
- Childcare assistance
- Training, certifications, networking
Qualifications
- Be 18-35 years old.
- Commitment to upholding Corps values of safety, service, respect, equity and community
- Ability to perform the Essential Service Functions, which include:
- Long (10 hour) days of shoveling, digging and swinging heavy tools repetitively
- Long (10 hour) days of chainsawing / brush sawing
- Heavy lifting, bending, and carrying up to 50 pounds
- Walking and working on steep or uneven terrain
- Working in extremes of heat or cold
- Flexible schedule to accommodate week-long out of town assignments and emergency response
- Must be a US Citizen, US National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the US
- Must pass criminal history check consisting of a National Sex Offender Public Website check, a state criminal history check, and a fingerprint-based FBI check.
- High school degree, GED, or willingness to work towards obtaining a GED
- Iowa locations only: Must possess or be able to acquire an Iowa Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicator License. Corps will provide training and support to obtain license
Other Information
Women, BIPOC, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa requires all employees and AmeriCorps members to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.